Muhith faces MPs’ fury over clearance of fund for infrastructure projects

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has come under fire in Parliament after the MPs said his ministry was not clearing money for infrastructure projects.

Tuesday’s session heated up when the MPs protested against Muhith’s repeated claim that the money was cleared.
 
He was replying to queries on projects to build and improve roads on behalf of Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
 
The discussion started with Narayanganj MP AKM Shamim Osman’s allegation of not getting Tk 250 million allotted for a project to improve infrastructure in his constituency.
 
“It was said that the money would be cleared when we proposed. But we did not get the money,” he said.
 
The finance minister said that the money had been cleared.
 
When almost all MPs protested in unison, he said, “No no no, not at all. That money has been cleared.”
 
“Work is underway in my area. Work is ongoing in other areas. 
 
“Money for many areas could not be cleared because Tk 250 million seemed not enough for many of the proposals by the MPs,” he argued.
 
“The local government ministry has cleared the money,” he added.

After the question-answer session, MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said, ”Though the finance minister has said that the money was cleared, it actually was not. No one got the money. 

“(Commerce Minister) Tofail Ahmed is beside me. He, too, did not get the money. At least those sitting on the front rows did not get the money,” Selim said.

“I had received the money during the last term. If he (Muhith) thinks about that, it would be wrong,” he said.

The senior Awami League leader believed the fund could not be disbursed due to bureaucratic complexities. “Maybe the finance minister does not know. He is the finance minister, he might have got it.”

Muhith, however, replied, “I told you before and am telling again that the money was cleared in the 2014-15 budget on behalf of the local government ministry. The projects are on and the entire money will be spent.”

When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told him something, the finance minister said, “No, honourable prime minister, the local government ministry has issued letters. Check in your areas how to conduct the projects. I have no right to not clear the money.”

The matter came up for discussion again after Maghrib prayers break.

Tofail Ahmed said, “I respect the finance minister. He is a leader very dear to us. For some reason, he misunderstood. Actually none of us got the money.”

“Even he did not get the money. If he says so, it’s not right. He might have gotten the previous Tk 150 million.” Tofail said.

Muhith replied again, “I’ve allocated the budget. I have nothing to do now.”